Why do People Immigrate? – The Different Causes of Immigration

Immigration — and its dynamic effect on global development — has been the subject of many reports, studies, and debates. Its economic implications have shaped global industries for years and are changing the world for the better.

Global migration is a large-scale topic. Currently, there are an estimated 272 million international migrants, which account for 3.5% of the world’s population. While the percentage may seem relatively low, the number of migrants already surpasses some projections for 2050.

In a 2020 report by United Nations (UN), it was revealed that one in every 30 people is an international migrant. Europe and Asia alone host around 82 to 84 million immigrants.  These regions were followed by North America, which houses almost 52 million international migrants.

Every year, the percentage of international citizens traversing borders increases and drastically impacts a country’s population size, cultural diversity, and economic productivity.

With the constant wave of settlers and refugees around the world today, a significant question arises — what exactly are the causes of immigration?


The Roots of Immigration

Immigration, in its simplest definition, is the movement of people from one place or country into another one. It is a simple yet fundamental aspect of human history.

Immigration is a concept that pre-dates existing laws. Long ago, nomadic tribes traveled from place to place to find fresh and fertile lands, pastures for their livestock, and rich areas for hunting and fishing.

In modern times, immigration still continues all over the world. In the past decade, the demographic composition of people traversing borders has significantly changed. This can be attributed to a wide range of factors that we can categorize into two groups — push and pull factors.

It is essential to examine these factors in order to perfectly understand the increase of global migration throughout the years.


Push and Pull Factors

To reach well-developed immigration and foreign policy solutions, it is important to recognize the driving factors that prompt individuals to migrate.

People around the globe immigrate for a wide array of reasons that we conceptualize as “push” and “pull” factors.

Push factors are reasons that compel or push people to leave the area of where they reside and settle someplace else. Common factors can include armed conflict, disaster exposure, gender inequality, lack of job opportunities, political corruption, and lack of access to competent healthcare and education. In simple terms, push factors are negative reasons that prompt individuals to leave.

Pull factors are, on the other hand, the exact opposite of push factors. They attract or pull people to move and settle in a particular area. Common pull factors may include better work opportunities, greater security, and access to adequate healthcare and education. Simply put, pull factors are positive reasons that prompt individuals to move.

Immigration, however, is not as simple as being pulled and pushed for merely a few reasons. The push and pull framework is a combination of factors that encourage a person to leave a place of origin and factors that draw a person to a destination.

Push and pull factors are never the same for everyone, and the reasons for immigration are unique to each individual.

However, even though factors can change depending on age, gender, health, social class, and ethnicity, a push or pull factor may describe a pattern that can be attributed to many different reasons.


Quality of Life Factors

Conditions that influence an individual’s quality of life vary from person to person, but may be the leading factors leading to immigration. These can include labor standards, poverty, and the overall state of a country to provide a quality life.

In most cases, people are pulled by work opportunities in a certain area which aren’t available in their place of origin. Data analysis has even shown that there is an increase in the immigrant’s quality of life due to migration that is reflected in financial status and job satisfaction.

People from places like Syria (which has a high unemployment rate of 50%) often immigrate to escape poverty and lack of work opportunities. Numerous developed countries, including the United States, provide a network or social platform that proves to be advantageous for people hailing from less developed countries.

Immigrant workers (people who migrate to pursue work) represent nearly two-thirds of the international migrants in 2017 — standing at roughly 164 million worldwide.

Another large factor involving an individual’s quality of life is access to a proper education and to medical services that are otherwise inaccessible in their country.


War-Torn Country Factors

A major socio-political factor pushing individuals to leave their place of origin is the presence of war and conflict.

Oppression because of one’s ethnicity, religion, gender, race, and culture poses a significant risk to quality of life, which increases the odds of an individual settling elsewhere.

People fleeing conflict zones, human rights violations, and government persecution are asylum seekers that desire international protection and a safer region. Individuals who are forcibly displaced because of external factors, such as war, are refugees.

In recent times, a large number of people have fled to Europe to escape conflict, persecution, and terror in their homeland. Over a quarter of asylum seekers from Syria were granted protection status, with those from Afghanistan and Iraq following respectively.


Environmental Factors

Natural disasters and climate change are environmental factors that disproportionately affect impoverished families, especially in less developed countries.

Individuals that experience regular occurrences of floods, hurricanes, and earthquakes are most likely to immigrate. Additionally, climate change is expected to worsen weather events, leading to an increase in immigration flow.

Environmental immigrants are obliged to leave their point of origin, be it temporarily or permanently, and either move within their country or abroad to avoid the adversities of nature.

According to the United Nations Environment Programme’s statement on climate change and immigration, these are the three environmental factors that can affect immigration in a significant way:

1. Effects of Warming: Constant warming in certain areas will slowly bring down agricultural productivity which may lead to a lack of fertile soil and clean water.

2. Increase in Extreme Weather Events: Extreme weather events caused by the change in climate, such as violent storms and resulting flash floods, may displace millions of people.

3. Rising of Sea Level: The constant sea level rise poses an extreme environmental danger to low-lying coastal areas and may result in the permanent displacement of more than a million individuals.


Why Do People Immigrate to the US?

According to the UN’s World Migration Report of 2020, the United States of America has been the primary destination for foreign migrants since 1970.

In less than 50 years, the number of foreign-born residents of the country has more than quadrupled — from less than 12 million to close to 51 million.

The reasons why so many people immigrate to the US have changed throughout the years, but the country’s core pull factors are what make it the leading destination for immigration.

The United States ranks as one of the most desirable countries to immigrate to because of the better living conditions provided.

The country has an active economy with a wide array of work opportunities for everyone. Wages are higher than most countries, with a relatively low cost of living. Individuals coming from a more collective society prefer American individualistic values.

People that are employed in the United States who have long-distance families are great examples of what compels families to immigrate. When these people gain their green cards, they want their children to move from their native country to the United States to be with them.

Moreover, the United States has access to healthcare and quality education that is not available in many countries.


The Impacts of Immigration

As the number of immigrants increases by the year, the patterns and factors involved become harder to analyze and evaluate. With the dynamic change and demands that immigration brings, it is important to take note of its impacts.

So what exactly are the causes and effects of immigration?

• Economic Output Growth: Net immigration can lead to an increase in the labor force and productive capacity of the economy. When this happens, there is an increase in living standards with a decline in the dependency ratio. Immigration leads to stronger economic growth and, as a result, higher tax revenues, allowing for more national spending options.

• Better Workforce: Because of immigration, the economy of certain countries, like the UK, attracts highly skilled professionals that fill job vacancies, which contributes even more to higher tax revenues. This is due to the fact that immigrants are more likely to have higher educational and skill levels.

• A Flexible Labor Market: Immigrants move to economies when the wages are high, which increases labor demands. The immigrants' high mobility keeps a booming economy from overheating by providing labor to meet expanding demand.

• Filling In for Undesirable Job Opportunities: Due to low earnings or the lack of prestige associated with some positions, native-born individuals have a tough time filling them. Businesses and employers who rely on flexible labor to fill job vacancies profit from immigration. Furthermore, when low-skilled positions are filled by migrants, native-born people can seek higher-skilled work elsewhere.

A growing scarcity of workers is widely acknowledged as one of the world's most critically significant barriers to sustained economic growth amidst increasingly tight labor markets.

Immigration, without fail, is the reason behind the development and prosperity of most businesses and fills the increasing shortage of workers in labor markets.

There are numerous drivers behind an individual’s immigration, and such a complex process needs good research, political will, and most importantly, collective action from the citizens.

Immigrants are breathing new life into rural and urban communities, shaping labor markets, and building a dynamic society — all of which begins with a simple “push” and “pull”.

ZEP Holders and the path to a 5 year general work visa and the waivers required


ZEP permit holders what is the closing off date to submit an extention of ZEP permit at VFS and in addition under the new points system announced in October 2024 how will the ZEP holders be dealt with in terms of the new General Work Visa process especially around waivers required for qualifications and registration of professional body .What needs to happen meaning what is expected of the applicant


ZEP Permit Holders:

Closing Date for ZEP Extension:

The ZEP permit extension submissions closes on 29 November 2025..


New Points System and General Work Visa Process for ZEP Holders:


In October 2024, South Africa introduced a points-based system for General Work Visa applications., but ZEP holders are exempt 


ZEP Holders' Transition to General Work Visa:

ZEP holders must apply for a General Work Visa under the new points system checklist 


Key Requirements:

1. Job Offer: Secure a job offer from a South African employer.

2. Employer Requirements 

3. Gather Documents 

4. Submit Application:

o Online application through the VFS Global website

5. Pay DHA Fee

6. Wait for Evaluation: The DHA evaluates the application and verifies documents.

Waivers for Qualifications and Professional Body Registration:

ZEP holders may be eligible for waivers or exemptions for:

1. SAQA for Qualifications To be  Waived for ZEP holders 

2. Qualifications To be  Waived for ZEP holders 

3. Labour To be  Waived for ZEP holders

Points Allocation for ZEP Holders:

ZEP holders will be assessed on a non points system :

Additional Considerations:

1. Priority Processing: ZEP holders may receive special processing which takes into account the special circumstances of ZEP to work 

2. Streamlined Application Process: Simplified application process for ZEP holders. and may receive special processing which takes into account the special circumstances of ZEP to work

Timeline:

Processing times vary, typically taking 6-12 months.


Role Players :

• VFS Global

• Department of Home Affairs

Would you like more details or clarification?  Our team for the most up-to-date information, as requirements and regulations may change.

How some South Africans get discriminated against by Home Affairs

People who were not born South African citizens continue to be procedurally disadvantaged. Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber says he is on it.

When Robert’s* daughter turned 18, she became eligible for a small inheritance her great-grandmother had left her. To claim it, she had to approach the Master of the High Court, Western Cape.
But after having her application rejected thrice for tiny bureaucratic missteps — typing the form instead of filling it out by hand; printing the form over two pages instead of back-to-back; a police station number being illegible — Robert’s daughter was told she would not be able to access her inheritance for a new reason.
“She was told they can’t verify her identity without a smart ID card, so she has to go to Home Affairs and get one first,” Robert told Daily Maverick this week.

Just one problem: Robert is a South African who lived in the UK for 23 years and had two kids before moving back 11 years ago, and Robert’s daughter is a permanent resident of South Africa, not a citizen. As such, she joins the ranks of South Africa’s naturalised citizens (including this journalist) who are not eligible to apply for a smart ID card.
But the official at the Master of the High Court office was adamant: a green barcoded ID, of the kind that permanent residents and naturalised citizens are still issued, was insufficient proof of identity to claim an inheritance.
Wider discrimination against naturalised citizens
Robert described his daughter’s situation as a “Catch-22”, but it is faced by millions of South Africans who were not born into citizenship.

Currently ineligible for the smart IDs which were introduced in 2013, they also face the prospect of the green barcoded IDs they do hold — and perhaps most critically, use as voting identification — being phased out imminently.
In addition, they are excluded from certain Home Affairs services — such as renewing passports through bank branches via the eHomeAffairs platform.

The issue, according to immigration expert Claudia Pizzocri, is that the Identification Act of 1997 “stipulates that the population register should capture certain additional information pertaining to naturalised citizens, citizens born overseas and permanent residents”.


It’s most likely that there wasn’t any “discriminatory intent” in mind, says Pizzocri, the CEO of the law firm Eisenberg & Associates.

The restrictions on permanent residents and naturalised citizens are probably simply “due to the manner in which the technology and systems were programmed in the early phase of the implementation [of the smart ID cards], which, at the time, was limited to South African-born citizens”, she says.

Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber confirmed as much to Daily Maverick this week, saying: “Most people fail to realise that significant IT issues are at the root of all challenges we face in Home Affairs, including on this front.”
Schreiber said he shared the public frustration that “such a seemingly simple systems fix — enabling naturalised citizens and permanent residents to obtain smart IDs — is actually just a symptom of a much deeper malaise in the IT space”.
GNU minister pledges to address issue

The matter has been flagged by the DA in the past. In 2023, the party’s spokesperson on Home Affairs, Angel Khanyile, lodged a complaint with the Public Protector over the failure of Home Affairs to issue smart ID cards to naturalised South African citizens.

At the time, the DA accused Home Affairs of “reducing naturalised citizens to second-class citizens”.
Khanyile wrote: “As a member of Parliament who sits on the Parliament portfolio committee on Home Affairs, I have raised the issue several times whenever it came under discussion. On each occasion, the Minister of Home Affairs has made repeated undertakings to address it but nothing has come out of that.”

Now the DA home affairs minister has pledged to resolve the issue once and for all.
Despite reports earlier this month that the green barcoded ID books will be scrapped by the end of the year, Schreiber is adamant that “the green ID book will not be declared invalid before every person who is entitled to a South African ID — including naturalised citizens and permanent residents — is able to obtain a smart ID”.
Schreiber said the department’s target was to achieve this before the end of 2025 “by expanding the footprint of Home Affairs to hundreds more bank branches to enhance access, and to make the necessary IT system changes to enable naturalised citizens and permanent residents to obtain smart IDs for the very first time ever”.
The home affairs minister added: “I want to give comfort to all affected persons that there is no ‘conspiracy’ here to deprive them of access to smart IDs.”

Silence from Master of Court
The Master of the Western Cape High Court failed to respond to Daily Maverick’s request for comment this week on the case of Robert’s daughter.
Immigration expert Pizzocri says, however, that it is probably not an isolated incident.
“Unfortunately, similar barriers to accessing services are experienced across the board,” she told Daily Maverick.
But there is no justification in legal terms for a green barcoded ID being treated as a lesser form of identification, Pizzocri insists.

“To date, legitimately issued green ID books comply with the definition of an identity card in terms of the [Identification] Act and should be accepted as a valid proof of identity for all purposes.”
Schreiber did not offer comment specifically on the Master of Court incident, but reiterated: “Green ID books remain valid forms of identification.


Schreibers big five fixes can Home Affairs five-point plan resolve SAs immigration crisis?


The Department of Home Affairs unveils its 2024 Budget Review, outlining five key immigration service targets to streamline visa applications and Immigration Act compliance inspections.The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) has set its sights on transforming South Africa into a business destination of choice, with Minister Leon Schreiber announcing towards the end of 2024 five immigration service targets for 2025. These objectives are designed to ensure the timely processing of visa applications and effective inspections in targeted areas.The five targets are:    Permanent residence applications: The DHA aims to adjudicate 85% of permanent residence applications for critical skills, general work and business visa holders within eight months. Currently, processing times can extend from eight months to two years.    Critical skills visa applications: The target is to process 95% of critical skills visa applications submitted from South Africa within four weeks, significantly reducing the current maximum wait time of up to one year.    Business visa applications: The DHA plans to adjudicate 90% of business visa applications made in South Africa within eight weeks, down from a current maximum wait time that could take as long as a year.    General work visa applications: Similar to business visas, the goal is to adjudicate 90% of general work visa applications within eight weeks, again aiming to cut down the existing wait time of up to a year.    Inspections: 2,000 law enforcement operations will be conducted in targeted areas, including spaza shops, transport and logistics companies, farms, mines and restaurants to ensure compliance with the Immigration Act of 2002.These targets aim to address the significant backlogs in visa applications and inspections, which have impacted the legal status and employment of foreign nationals in South Africa. The DHA aims to speed up disciplinary action, with the aim of resolving 70% of existing misconduct cases and 80% of reported fraud and corruption cases within 90 working days.In response to queries about the progress of these targets, the ministers spokesperson Duwayne Esau said,These targets are for the entire financial year. The department will compile a report on how much of this was achieved at the end of the financial year.Imraan Mahomed, director at Employment Law practice at Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr, hailed the targets as a positive move and steps in the right direction, saying that if the targets could be achieved, it would certainly be positive for the country and alleviate the frustrations of visa applications.The DHA also plans to speed up disciplinary action. The intention is to finalise 70% of existing misconduct cases and 80% of reported fraud and corruption cases within 90 working days.Whilst laudable, this will only be achieved where the DHA as an employer takes decisive steps to decriminalise its internal disciplinary processes, is robust with employees and unions who unnecessarily delay the internal processes; and has sufficient internal capacity to clear out the backlog of cases, Mahomed said.Mahomed said the Department of Labour, in conjunction with Home Affairs, would conduct inspections to determine compliance with the Immigration Act of 2002.What they would require from an employer is a list of employees to confirm that theyve got the necessary work permits to be employed by the particular company¦ weve seen examples of that and now the static intention is to have 2,000 of those (inspections) over the course of this year, which is a significant amount. very frustrating process Mahomed said companies faced frustration when trying to bring skilled workers into South Africa. The process in order to obtain a permit or a visa to work in South Africa is best described as very frustrating ¦ its no secret that the process is phenomenally long.There are time periods that are set, but never properly complied with. There are no responses from Home Affairs. Its a very frustrating process because you kind of fall into a black hole, so thats the system in Home Affairs thats been around for, unfortunately, a good couple of years now, he told Daily Maverick.He said this frustration could lead to companies shifting their resources, as they could not afford to wait indefinitely. s phenomenally frustrating for businesses when they want to bring skills into South Africa, Mahomed said.With so much uncertainty about how long the process will take, it is difficult to be confident that potential staff will qualify for a particular visa.Mahomed emphasised the importance of efficient processing of visa applications, noting that delays could have severe consequences for businesses. If businesses do not get assistance on time and face the frustration of long waits, they will simply relocate those resources and skills.Immigration under scrutinyHowever, not everyone is convinced of the governments commitment to addressing immigration. Speaking to Sky News on 6 January 2025 Nomzamo Zondo, human rights attorney and executive director of the Socio-Economic Rights Institute of South Africa, questioned the governments seriousness in dealing with immigration.Zondo emphasised the importance of ensuring that foreign nationals were regularised and contributed to the economy. The call has to be one that says once you are here, how do we make sure you are regularised here, that we know who you are, and (how you) contribute to the economy at this point in time, she said.

South African city named the best in the world

Cape Town has been named the best city in the world by Time Out. 

After finishing in second place in 2024, Cape Town claimed the number-one spot for 2025 in the British-based company’s rankings. 

The results were based on opinions from 18,500 people around the world who weighed in on their city as per the seventh Time Out global survey of city-dwellers.

The survey’s questions covered everything from food, nightlife and culture to affordability, happiness and overall city vibe… you know us Capetonians, we’re all about the vibe.

The British-based publication said that Cape Town’s rise to number one was no surprise due to the fact that locals and visitors enjoy visiting the colony of African penguins, tasting world-class wines, enjoying strolls on the beaches, and visiting one of the world’s coolest neighbourhoods, East City. 

The city is also renowned for its historic sites and cultural hubs. Time Out also has a presence in the city, with the Time Out Market situated in the V&A Waterfront.

After losing the title to New York in 2024, the Mother City faced intense competition from  Bangkok (#2), The Big Apple (#3) Melbourne (#4), and London (#5). 

Cape Town scored highly across 44 different criteria used in the survey, with 82% of Capetonians describing their city as beautiful, and 97% of locals saying it makes them happy.

No other South African city made the top 50, with only Marrakech in Morocco (#32) and Lagos in Nigeria (#41) making the top 50. 

“Cape Town is a city built on its people’s passion, resilience, and creativity. From bustling markets to serene beaches, every corner of our city tells a story of community and connection,” said Enver Duminy, CEO of Cape Town Tourism.

“This recognition speaks volumes about the incredible spirit of Cape Town,” added James Vos, City of Cape Town’s Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth. 

“From our stunning landscapes to our awesome communities, it’s no wonder we’re considered the best. This is a shared achievement, and we’re excited to continue growing and attracting visitors from around the globe to experience everything we have to offer.”

The global top ten can be found below: 

1. Cape Town, South Africa

2. Bangkok, Thailand

3. New York, USA

4. Melbourne, Australia

5. London, England

6. New Orleans, USA

7. Mexico City, Mexico

8. Porto, Portugal

9. Shanghai, China

10. Copenhagen, Denmark